Spells and Oregano

Secret Spice Cafe Series, Book 2

By: Patricia V. Davis

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

A mother desperate to save her twin sons, a war veteran in torment, a beautiful young psychic with a terrible secret, a powerful magician with a shattered soul, and a Queen steeped in history and glory. These extraordinary beings cross paths and set off a remarkable chain of events in Spells and Oregano.

Overcome by despair after a trauma when she was 16, Sarita Taylor has spent the past 10 years isolated and lonely aboard her beloved RMS Queen Mary. Fearful of outsiders, she dedicates her time to managing The Secret Spice Cafe, now an award-winning restaurant. Until Luca Miceli, a man with a dark past, steps on board.

Patricia V. Davis deftly spins past and present, mystery and magic, into a potent story of passionate longing and family tragedy all at once. Spells and Oregano is a compelling tale of atonement, devotion, and undying love, set aboard one of the world's most magnificent, haunted ships.

©2017 Patricia V. Davis (P)2020 Tantor

had to force myself to stop and go to work

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this second book in the Secret Spice trilogy. I enjoyed that I got to hear more about some of the characters in the first book as well as getting to know new ones. I felt like Patricia V. Davis did a very nice job of keeping the identity of a particular character ambiguous and yet giving enough alternate hints to keep the reader in suspense.

I felt like the Ann Marie Gideon did a very good job keeping the characters distinctive enough that I never felt confused about which character she was reading. There were some occasions where certain extra characters sounded repetitive but in a way that is true of real life people until you get to know them more. And it is understandable for one person to only be able to make so many distinctive vocalizations.

I look forward to the next book in the series and I hope it is the same narrator.